My Beloved World

"An instant American icon--the first Hispanic on the U.S. Supreme Court--tells the story of her life before becoming a judge in an inspiring, surprisingly personal memoir. With startling candor and intimacy, Sonia Sotomayor recounts her life from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench, a progress that is testament to her extraordinary determination and the power of believing in oneself. She writes of her precarious childhood and the refuge she took with her passionately spirited paternal grandmother. She describes her resolve as a young girl to become a lawyer, and how she made this dream become reality: valedictorian of her high school class, summa cum laude at Princeton, Yale Law, prosecutor in the Manhattan D.A.'s office, private practice, federal district judge before the age of forty. She writes about her deeply valued mentors, about her failed marriage, about her cherished family of friends. Through her still-astonished eyes, America's infinite possibilities are envisioned anew in this warm and honest book, destined to become a classic of self-discovery and self-invention, alongside Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father."-- Provided by publisher.

Opinion

From Library Staff

The first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor has become an American icon. Her memoir, My Beloved World, details her journey from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench.

The first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor has become an American icon. Her memoir, My Beloved World, details her journey from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench.

This autobiography offers a moving portrait of her gritty South Bronx neighborhood and her extended Puerto Rican family, as well as details of the many challenges she has faced during her formative years and early career. This open, eloquent memoir describes how she overcame poverty, her father's... Read More »

"With startling candor and intimacy, Sonia Sotomayor recounts her life from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench, a progress that is testament to her extraordinary determination and the power of believing in oneself." (Publisher)

It is an interesting and somewhat inspiring book.It starts off with the justice growing up in the projects and her eagerness to learn .She would go out of her way to go above and beyond with her education. and how the lessons she learned as a child stayed with her throughout her life .Even now she continues to use them.

I loved this audio book. Rita Moreno did a wonderful job reading Sonia's story. This book is very inspirational for all women of the world and for anyone interested in having a career. I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to hear her life's story. I do feel that Sonia was put here on earth to be "chosen" as a Supreme Court Justice.

Absolutely loved this book. The librarian recommended it, I had just started listening to audiobooks, while driving.
I love Rita Moreno's narration. Loved the relationship between Sonia and her grandmother because it' was so much like the one my grandmother and I had. Made me teary.
A must read.

I have fallen in love with Sonia Sotomayor! I started listening to this book for a book club, thoroughly expecting to be bored to tears. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Sotomayor is an engaging writer with a very moving story to tell. And Rita Moreno is an excellent reader.

"The truth is that since childhood I had cultivated an existential independence. It came from perceiving the adults around me as unreliable, and without it I felt I wouldn't have survived. I cared deeply for everyone in my family, but in the end I depended on myself." Sotomayor tells her inspiring life story from birth to her appointment to the SCOTUS.
The truth is she’s still learning—a good lesson for us all. The NYT reviewer wrote: “She had learned from her mother, she says, that 'a surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence.’” Written in straightforward prose, I’d recommend this to YA readers, too.

This was a surprisingly disappointing book. There should have been more about the judicial philosophy that drove her work as a state prosecutor, civil litigator and federal judge before she joined The Nine.

[Update: 11/27/15: Three people murdered, and nine seriously injured, by mad gunman attacking a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Colorado Springs - - please see Sotomayor's vote below - - which is why we should all ignore the public relations' stories, and stick to the records of people, be they the Bush family, the Clintons or Sotomayor!]
Sotomayor (along with Elena Kagan) voted with the rest of the Justices on the Supreme Court to ban any boundary areas surrounding abortion clinics, thereby allowing protesters to bother - - and attack - - patients from just outside the door of the clinic. Again, I ask, these are supposed to be [in quotes} liberals?!?!?!?
Please listen to the following -- paying close attention to the final 5 to 10 minutes:
http://www.radioproject.org/2015/12/abortion-access-and-eroded-rights/
https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F236748437&visual=true&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false

I guess I'll be the only commenter to offer a disclaimer: if you worship corporate power to the exclusion of real people, read and love Sotomayor, who consistenly ruled in favor of the insurance companies, with only several exceptions when she was a junior member of a panel of judges and the lead judge favored the plaintiff against the corporation. Remember sheeple, OBEY AUTHORITY!